Forewords
Sport, and football in particular, has a unique opportunity to inspire communities around the globe and drive long lasting positive change.
As the governing body of football, we at FIFA have both a responsibility and a unique opportunity to harness the power of the game, protect its integrity and make it accessible to all. In addition to taking the responsibility that comes with staging the FIFA World Cup™ very seriously, the event and the global attention it draws also offer a platform to drive positive change. We recognise that by doing so, we will help to pass on a better world to future generations. A world that is healthier, more resilient, and promotes inclusion, collaboration and transparency. This will ultimately allow us to deliver on our vision to promote and develop the game of football and make it truly global.
Our focus is firmly set on Qatar, where FIFA and the local tournament delivery partners – have been actively setting new benchmarks for sustainable mega-sporting events over the past decade. In this endeavour, FIFA is joined by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) – the lead government entity responsible for the coordination and delivery of the host country’s infrastructure, services and legacy programmes – as well as the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC (Q22).
I am delighted to present our joint FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Sustainability Progress Report, which captures our combined efforts towards achieving our ambitious plans to maximise the tournament’s contribution to people’s well-being, economic development and environmental protection in the short and long term. It also details the considerable progress made towards our commitment in the FIFA 2020-2023 Vision, to champion human rights, protect the environment and maximise our community impact.
Central to achieving our ambitious goals has been the implementation of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Sustainability Strategy. This strategy continues to be the key guide for achieving our objectives as we prepare to proudly host the FIFA World Cup™ in the Middle East for the first time. The strategy is a landmark in the history of the FIFA World Cup™ as the first sustainability strategy to be developed and delivered jointly with the host country.
We are proud to have aligned our efforts with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that aim to protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. The SDGs were a key input for the strategy’s development and continue to guide our efforts to concretely contribute to 11 of the 17 SDGs.
As a former long-serving UN official, I firmly believe in the power of sport, and of football in particular, to serve as an enabler for the SDGs. I am personally committed to seeing FIFA take a leading role in demonstrating our alignment with and contribution to these global goals. I also know that delivery of the goals by 2030 is highly ambitious, and no organisation, institution, government or business can achieve it alone. We need to find new ways of working together to drive the systemic change needed to achieve this vision.
I want to take this opportunity to thank the individuals from across the SC, Q22 and FIFA, and the many generous partners and stakeholders in Qatar and internationally for their exemplary teamwork: this kind of cooperation is essential to growing our impact and driving forward the sustainable development agenda in the world of sport. As we move forward, I call on all stakeholders to join us and work together to use the power of football, and the FIFA World Cup 2022™ , to build a more resilient and more sustainable world.
Fatma Samoura
FIFA Secretary General
When Qatar bid to host the FIFA World Cup, it did so with a vision to use the tournament as a catalyst for sustainable, long-term change. Our measure of success is the legacy this tournament leaves behind for Qatar, the region, and the world.
I am honoured to present the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Sustainability Progress Report which describes our joint, FIFA, Q22 and SC, efforts in delivering a truly unique tournament that encompasses sustainability across all its facets and will set new benchmarks for future mega-events around the world. The work that has been undertaken since we were awarded the hosting rights in 2010 has already transformed Qatar and is providing a model for inspiring positive social, economic and environmental change that other host countries can learn from and build on.
A key objective for the FIFA World Cup 2022™ is to serve as a catalyst for the achievement of Qatar’s development goals as laid out in the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy, which define the long- term outcomes for the country under four main pillars: human, economic, social and environmental development. The framework of the FIFA World Cup 2022™ Sustainability Strategy is aligned with these pillars, and with much of the strategy already implemented, we have started to witness how the tournament is generating significant long-term contributions to Qatar’s vision of sustainability.
In the area of human and social development, the SC’s Workers’ Welfare Standards are setting best practice that is helping to drive improvement in the living and working conditions of workers across Qatar. We continue to safeguard the rights and welfare of workers engaged on FIFA World Cup 2022™ sites and are actively promoting their rights in projects and supply chains directly linked to the FIFA World Cup™. At a national level, we have played a pivotal role in supporting the Qatari government with continued reform. This has resulted in several items of new and amended labour legislation that moves Qatar towards full compliance with relevant international labour standards.
We have also aimed to catalyse significant economic growth and diversification in Qatar and the region through our efforts to link local businesses to FIFA World Cup 2022™ value chains and innovation opportunities, and by facilitating the development of tournament sites, as well as their infrastructure and services, in a way that enables future event staging, attracts new business ventures and addresses relevant community needs.
Several initiatives have been implemented that will utilise the FIFA World Cup 2022™ as a setting to promote intercultural exchange among parties engaged with the tournament. For Qatar and the Middle East, the region’s first FIFA World Cup™ is a vital platform for exchange between locals and people from all over the world, for enhancing cultural understanding of the culture of Qatar and vice versa. For our part, we are committed to delivering an inclusive tournament experience for all. Everyone is welcomed in Qatar, all visitors will be treated with respect and their rights will be protected during the tournament and beyond in accordance with internationally recognised human rights.
To support the global fight against climate change, we are committed to delivering a fully carbon-neutral FIFA World Cup 2022™. We are promoting low-carbon solutions in Qatar and the region and all residual emissions will be neutralised through verified carbon offsets. All stadiums are designed and built to meet green building standards. This has already changed the way that other buildings and infrastructure across Qatar are being planned and built. Beyond the stadiums, a large scale solar power plant is nearing completion and a large fleet of electric buses are being taken in to use to supplement the new Doha Metro system – the backbone of our new low-carbon transportation system.
As we draw closer to kicking off the tournament, I am looking forward to these final stages of preparation as our ambitious vision continues to challenge our operations, partners, and suppliers to raise the bar on sustainability. By working together, I am confident that we will continue to deliver on our vision to use the power of football to open the door to a world of amazing experiences and a genuine legacy of sustainable development.
H.E. Hassan Al Thawadi
Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy Secretary General, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC Chairman